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Colt factory records show 18 Colt
Buntline Specials between serial
numbers 28,800 and 28,830.
The history of William P. Vandevert is amazing, and being a prolific huntsman and trailblazer in areas of great
danger, he certainly knew the value of carrying a .45 Long Colt Revolver vs. any alternative. Included with the
revolver is a framed 14 X 5 inch board, burned with a 19th century cattle brand in the form of a hash-knife,
provided by Mrs. Crabtree and which she removed from the wall in her living room and gave to our consigner
stating that the brand was burned into the board and kept by her father as a memento of home and family.
Along with the board, she gave an old framed photograph of two mounted cowboys, the right cowboy she
identified as her grandfather, William P. Vandevert. Vandevert is credited in at least one publication with
designing this famous brand while in Texas, being that of Vandeverts’ first ranch near Albany, Texas, later used
by the massive Aztec Land & Cattle Company (also known as the famous and notorious “Hash-Knife Outfit”)
of the Southwest and the Vandevert ranch of Oregon. The Hash-knife Outfit gained the reputation as having
the “thievinist, fightinest bunch of cowboys” in the country. Late 19th century ranching gave rise to rustling,
robbery and gunfights. An uptick in violence was quickly experienced in Holbrook where 26 shooting deaths
were recorded in 1883 alone. At the time Holbrook was home to only about 250 people. So famous was the
outfit that author Zane Grey wrote his novel “The Hash Knife Outfit” about the group. The Vandeverts left
Arizona around 1889 and started their family ranch in 1891 after a visit to New York. The gun is accompanied
with research of Vandeverts’ exploits throughout his life in the West and they are quite exciting to say the least.
Colt Single Actions with carbine length barrels are popularly known as “Buntline Specials”. Colt factory records
list 18 Buntline Specials between serial numbers “28800” and “28830”. This revolver has a .45 caliber, special
frame with folding leaf rear sight and gas port, elongated hammer screws and skeleton style detachable stock.
The original barrel was cut to 6-1/2” during its time of use and is now accompanied by a 16” professionally mad
modern replacement barrel as well, featuring a cut-in coin front sight. The ejector rod has the early bullseye
head and the hammer has elongated, bordered, knurling on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll stamped
with the “Type II” legend: “COLT’S PT.FA.MFG. Co. HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A.” in one line. The left side of the frame is
roll stamped with the “1871/1872” two-line patent markings. “45 CAL” is roll stamped on the left shoulder of
the trigger guard. The full serial number “28814” is stamped on all appropriate parts with the exception of the
cylinder (which is unnumbered) and are guaranteed original. The inside of the loading gate is stamped with the
assembly number “11”. The number “12” is stamped in the rear sight recess on the top of the frame as well as
on the ladder sight itself and an “H” inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole.
The revolver is accompanied by its original, period shortened 6 1/2-inch barrel stamped with the partial serial
number “8814”, and fitted with a period replacement front sight in the form of a coin.
CONDITION: Very good. The revolver has a smooth silver-gray patina overall with most of its bright original high-
polish blue beneath the ejector housing. The frame has some scattered and very fine pitting on the left recoil
shield and left side of the trigger guard but the balance has a smooth silver-gray, patina. The Colt patent marking
and serial numbers are crisp. The unnumbered period replacement cylinder has been cleaned and has a few spots
of heavy pitting between the stops with lighter pitting in the flutes and on the leading edge. The grips have shrunk
slightly with time and shows some casual attractive age cracks. The reproduction detachable stock is fair-good
with exposed brass and no trace of nickel plating. The stock is unpolished with scattered scratches and handling
marks. Manufactured in very limited numbers, the Colt Single Action Army Buntline Special revolvers are among
the rarest and most desirable of all Colt Single Actions and the rich western history associated with this revolver
put it in a league of its own. It is in as-found condition. Its history is not word-of-mouth, a maybe, a possibility or
a could have been. This revolver has rock-solid provenance, authenticity and Wild West history. A gun that true
collectors can appreciate. The information provided should be researched further and published.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
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